Method and Apparatus for Combining Frames in WLAN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method performed by a station of a wireless local area network for combining information from received frames. The method comprises receiving ( 420 ) a first frame from another station of the wireless local area network, and determining ( 430 ) a radio characteristic of the first frame. The method further comprises comparing ( 440 ) the radio characteristic of the first frame with a radio characteristic determined for a previously received second frame, and determining ( 450 ) whether to combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame based on the comparison. When it is determined to combine the information, the method comprises combining ( 460 ) information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method performed by a station of a wireless local area network for combining information from received frames, the method comprising:
 receiving a first frame from another station of the wireless local area network,   determining a radio characteristic of the first frame,   comparing the radio characteristic of the first frame with a radio characteristic determined for a previously received second frame,   determining whether to combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame based on the comparison,   and when it is determined to combine the information:   combining information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising when failing to decode the previously received second frame:
 determining the radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   storing information from the previously received second frame and the radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   and wherein the radio characteristic of the first frame is compared with the stored radio characteristic of the previously received second frame, and information from the first frame is combined with the stored information from the previously received second frame when it is determined to combine the information.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein determining the radio characteristic of the first frame comprises obtaining a physical layer parameter from a header of the first frame. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein determining the radio characteristic of the first frame comprises measuring the radio characteristic of the first frame. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the radio characteristic of the first frame is determined when failing to decode the first frame. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein comparing comprises:
 estimating a difference between the radio characteristic of the first frame and the radio characteristic determined for the previously received second frame,   and wherein it is determined to combine the information when the estimated difference is below a threshold value.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises at least one of: an average received power; an angle of arrival; an impulse response; and a frequency response. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises a modulation and coding scheme, and wherein it is determined to combine the information when the modulation and coding scheme of the first frame is equal to or more robust than the modulation and coding scheme of the previously received second frame. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises a frame length, and wherein it is determined to combine the information when the frame length of the first frame is equal to the frame length of the previously received second frame. 
     
     
         30 . A station for a wireless local area network adapted to combine information from received frames, the station being configured to:
 receive a first frame from another station of the wireless local area network,   determine a radio characteristic of the first frame,   compare the radio characteristic of the first frame with a radio characteristic determined for a previously received second frame,   determine whether to combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame based on the comparison,   combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame when it is determined to combine the information.   
     
     
         31 . The station according to  claim 30 , further configured to, when failing to decode the previously received second frame:
 determine the radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   store information from the previously received second frame and the determined radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   compare the determined radio characteristic of the first frame with the stored radio characteristic of the previously received second frame, and   combine information from the first frame with the stored information from the previously received second frame when it is determined to combine the information.   
     
     
         32 . The station according to  claim 30 , further configured to determine the radio characteristic of the first frame by obtaining a physical layer parameter from a header of the first frame. 
     
     
         33 . The station according to  claim 30 , further configured to determine the radio characteristic of the first frame by measuring the radio characteristic of the first frame. 
     
     
         34 . The station according to  claim 30 , further configured to determine the radio characteristic of the first frame when failing to decode the first frame. 
     
     
         35 . The station according to  claim 30 , further configured to compare by estimating a difference between the radio characteristic of the first frame and the radio characteristic determined for the previously received second frame, and to determine to combine the information when the estimated difference is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         36 . The station according to  claim 35 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises at least one of: an average received power; an angle of arrival; an impulse response; and a frequency response. 
     
     
         37 . The station according to  claim 30 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises a modulation and coding scheme, and wherein the station is further configured to determine to combine the information when the modulation and coding scheme of the first frame is equal to or more robust than the modulation and coding scheme of the previously received second frame. 
     
     
         38 . The station according to  claim 30 , wherein the radio characteristic comprises a frame length, and wherein the station is further configured to determine to combine the information when the frame length of the first frame is equal to the frame length of the previously received second frame. 
     
     
         39 . A station for a wireless local area network, the station comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said station is operative to:
 receive a first frame from another station of the wireless local area network,   determine a radio characteristic of the first frame,   compare the radio characteristic of the first frame with a radio characteristic determined for a previously received second frame,   determine whether to combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame based on the comparison,   combine information from the first frame with information from the previously received second frame when it is determined to combine the information.   
     
     
         40 . The station according to  claim 39 , further operative to, when failing to decode the previously received second frame:
 determine the radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   store information from the previously received second frame and the determined radio characteristic of the previously received second frame,   compare the determined radio characteristic of the first frame with the stored radio characteristic of the previously received second frame, and   combine information from the first frame with the stored information from the previously received second frame when it is determined to combine the information.